Flying-machine.



f F.. M. BELL.

FLYING MAOHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED M1114, 1911.

l ,070,576. Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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Wyf SES: INVENTR y F//zfa'/Z,

F. M. BELL.

FLYING MACHINE,I

APPLIoATIoN FILED M1114, 1911.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F M BELL FLYING MAOEINE. APPLIUATION FILED MAYA, 1911.

- Patented Aug. 19,- 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEYS F. M. BELL.

FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1911.

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Patented Aug. 19, 1913..,

FRANK M. BELL, or EL reso, TEXAS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Lomme.

Application led May 4, 1911. Serial No. 625,015.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. t9, i913.

To all whom t may concern 'Be it known that I, FRANK M. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at El' Paso, in the county'of El Paso and State of Texas, have invented certain new and use,- ful lImprovements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to flying machines of the type commonly known as heavier than air lmachines.

The object of the invention is to effect certain improvements in the construction of machines of this type with a view particularly to rendering such a'machine more stable andfacilitating the operation and control of the machine when in flight. l

The invention involves numerous features of improvement in the construction of such machines and preferably these features are all used in combinationv in the same machine thoughl certain of them may be used independently of the others as desired.

rlhe invention is embodied preferably in a biplane and in this form of machine l provide a plurality of containers for gas in the upper of the two planes and locate the engine and other comparatively heavy por-C tions of the apparatus upon or below t-he lower plane so that the center of gravity of the machine as a whole is low. In this way the stability of the machine when in flight is materially increased. ln combination with this arrangement of the parts and disposition of the weight thereof, other means are provided for augmenting the stability of the machme both when moving horizontally through the air and when descending.

AThese and other features of the invention will be fully described hereinafter and defition I nitely pointed out in the appended claims.

I. wish it understood that the features of my invention are. not limited to the type of machine above set forth Ahaving gas containers incorporated in the upper of two planes for certain of the features are of use in flying machines of various other types.

The preferred embodiment of my invenis illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure lis a longitudinal section of the machine, Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, Fig. 3 is a perspective uview of one of the vertical fins, Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of one of the engines and certain parts `associated therewith, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of certain of the controlling devices,

Fig. 6 is a detail view in section of one of the handles shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a top view of the .engines and the horizontal propeller, Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the starting devices, Fig. 9 is a view of one of the adjustable weights and Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the machine with the operating mechanism removed, showing the arrange? nient of the openings through the planes.

`l Referring to these drawings, the machine illustrated is a biplane, the lower plane be# ing indicated by the reference l and the upper plane by the reference 2. The upper plane has a plurality of containersfor gas mounted therein, these -containers being shown at 3. Preferably .the several containers are individually removable so that one which has become partially or wholly deflated may be removed and a new onel inserted in its place. The surfaces of the upper plane on either side of the gas cont-ainers 3 are formed of suitable material, such that 'substantially unyielding surfaces are presented to the air. rllhe frame of the machine is extended downwardly below t-he lower plane as indicated at 4; and the two engines 5 and 6 are mounted upon this portion of the frame below the lower plane l. Below the engines the lframe 4 has wheels 7 thereon for supporting the machine when` not in use. By reason of the construction of the machine as thus far explained, the center of gravity is very low, and,.in addition to this, the gas in the containers in the upper plane exerts a lifting force. v These features of the construction combine to make the machine very stable when in flight. rlhe gas containers, as shown in Fig. Q are of substantial size but it will be readily appreciated that the dimensions of these containers may be varied as desired and also that the area of the upper plane may secure a 'greater lifting e'ect of the gas in the containers associated with the. upper plane.

ln the lower plane lis a central opening which is of substantial size and the two engines 5 and 6 are mounted at opposite sides from the front edge to the rear edge of the plane. -Each ofthe two engines-'5 and 6 be increased above that shown 1n the drawings, so as to respectively. These two drives a vertically disposed propeller, 'these being indicated by the references 8 and 9 propellers are mounted on concentric shafts, the propeller l9l being secured upon a hollow shaft 10 which turns on the shaft 11 carrying the propeller 8. Chains 12 gear 'the two shafts 10 and 11 to the engine shafts. In this wa'y" either engine may be driven alone or the two engines may be vdriven simultaneously@ v and at any desiredispeeds, and the propelling force exerted by the'two propellers will not tend to turn the machine from a stra-ight course.

One of the two engines is arranged to drive a horizontally disposed propeller 13 which is mounted for rotation upon the 'downward extension 4 of the frame of the 'machine and is in line with the opening through the lower plane 1. 'The upper plane 2 has a central opening' therethrough in line with the central opening through the plane 1;- this opening is indicated by the reference 79 on Figs. 2 and 10 and is preferably of the same size and shape as the opening- 78 in the lower plane.v In this way the free passage lof air throughthe center of' the two planes isky permitted and this is of advantage for several reasons.

'When starting, the passage of air downin'line with the central openings through the planes is a vertical fin 14 which, inthe preferred embodiment of the invention, is so arranged thatit may be collapsed more or less to vary its effective area as "desired, In the present instance this 1in is shown as projecting upwardly aboye the upper. plane 2 when in its extended or operative-position. Referring to Fig. 3 it will beseen `that the fin 14 consists of flexible material secured to a plurality of supportsl each of which is pivotally mounted upon one ofthe members of the frame" extendingv longitudinally of the frame, so that it may .turn on its pivot in a plane fore and aft of the machine.

The-supports 15 extend below theirA pivots and these lower 'ends are united by a bar 16. For raising or lowering the fin 14 cordsA or wires 17 are provided, these being secured to the opposite ends of the bar 16 and passing over suitable pulleys, and down to a handle adjacent to the seat for the operator whereby they may be operated so as `to move the bar 16 longitudinally andvthereby rock the supports 15 on their pivots to raise or lower the iin 14. To assist in holding the fins against lateral movement, stays 82 may be provided extending from the upper end of the supports 15 down to the frame of the machine at points on the lframe in line with the pivots of the respective lsupports transversely of the machine. In the present instance I have shown l'three such vertical lins, on'e 'mounted in line with the central' opening .through the planes of the machine and two others mounted in openings in the planes on opposite sides of and distant from the central opening. These two iins are indicated at 18. It will be seen that each of them. is arranged vertically in an opening 8O through the upper plane 2 and that an. opening 81 is provided in the lower plane 1 under that opening in plane 2. Preferably .all three of the vertical fins shown are employed but I may utilize only the two fins 18er only the one central fin 14. These vertical fins are of material assistance in maintaining the stability of the machine when in the air as the eoaction of the.air wi-th the fins counteracts rocking movement of the machine. rlhis function of the tins 14 and 18 is made much more effective by the provision of the openings through the planes in alinement with the fins, since these openings allow the air to pass unobstructedly into coaction with the fins. vertical fins are most useful when descending as it is then that rocking movement of the machine is more apt to occur, for at such times it is -usual to materially reduce the lspeed of the machine. During such descent air passes upwardly through the` openings in the planes quite freely and if the machine'rocks slightly the planes act upon the air passing through theopcnings to resist further rocking movement. The mechanism shown for collapsing4 the ns so as to vary the effective area thereof permits of folding the fins to an inoperative position `when traveling in a -substantially horizontal direction.

Each of the engines 5 and 6 is a gasolene engine of any suitable construction and isA provided with a carbureter as shown at 19. Gasolene is supplied to these carbureters orv directlyto the engines from tanks 20 and these tanks are so mounted that they assist in maintaining the stability of the machine in the air. AThe tanks are mounted above the level ofthe carbureters or engines so that the gasolene will Aiiow freely and they are mounted upon the 'lower plane 1 on op- The posite sides of the-center thereof and distant from the center. The weight of these tanksand the liquid therein is, therefore, disposed far out from the center -of the machine, and thus assists in maintaining machine and serve as pontoons when the machine descends upon water. I for the compressed air are shown at 21,- there being two of these tanks vone under each of the engines.

Referring to Fig. .S/'air may be admitted from tank 21 through a pipe 22 cont-rolled by a valve 23 to a compressed air motor 24 which is connected by a gear 25 to a toothed rim 26 (Fig. 4) encircling the fly-wheel 27 of the engine. The rim 26 is provided with a plurality of spring-pressed pawls 28 adapted to take into notches in the periphery of the {1y-wheel 27. To start the engine it is only necessary to admit air to the motor 24 which will thus drive rim 26 and through Athe pawls 28 and fly-wheel 27, the engine shaft. As soon as the engine has become started in this way the fly-wheel 27.

may rotate freely within the rim 26. Such a motor 24 is provided for each of the two engines. For compressingl air within the tanks 2l air compressors 29.J are provided arranged to be driven by the fly-wheels of the engines. For this purpose each compressor is mounted upon a lever 30 pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine and this lever is connected by a rod 31 with a pedal 32 which may be depressed vso as to rock lever 30 upon its pivot and Ithus carry the driving wheel of the coma shaft 40 mounted for rotation upon theV wheel of the engine.

pressor 29 into engagement .with the flyl The air compressor 29 is connected by a pipe 33 with the tank 21.

One of the engines, as for instance the engine 6, is provided vwith a reversing gear 34 operated by a lever adjacent to the operators seat so that one of the propellers may bef-operated in the reverse direction when desired. One of the instance engine 5, is connected to the horizontal pro ae'ller 13 so that it may be utilized for riving that propeller when desired as for instance when ascending. Forthis purpose a' clutch member 35 -is shown which may be moved by means of a yoke 36into coaction with a clutch member 37 loose upon the shaft of the engine 5 and carrying the sprocket of one of the` driving chains 1 2. The clutch member 35 may also be moved into coaction withl another clutchmember secured to a friction disk 38 with which coacts a friction disk 39 splined upon frame of the machine. The shaft 40 carries a gear 41 meshing with a gear'42 uponl a vertically disposed shaft upon which the propeller 13 issecured. When it is desired to ascend, the clutch 35 is thrown to position for driving the propeller 13 by means igines, as for l iof the engine 5 and .the other engine 6 is utilized for driving one of the vertically disposed propellers. After the desired altitude has been reached the engine 5 may be uncoupled from the propeller 13 and utipeller 8. i To assist in maintaining the equilibrium lef the machine l provide weights adjustable A longitudinally and transversely of the machine. Thelongitudinally adjustable weight is shown at 43 in Figs. 1 and 9, this weight being arranged toy slide upon a rod 44 secured to the frame of the machine. A cord 45 is secured at its endsto the weight -43 vand passes around pulleys at opposite ends of rod/44.l This cord is wound two or more times upon a drum 46 which may be rotated weight 43. The rod 44 extends a substan-v tial distance forward; and rearward of the planes of the machine so that a substantial range of adjust-ment of the weight 43 is provided. The transversely adjustable weight is shown at 48 in Fig. 2 and its position may be adjusted in the manner described in connection with Fig. 9'. The rpd upon which this weight slides extends outwardly to the extreme ends of the planes so that the range of adjustment of this weight is also very wide. The transversely adjustable weight 48 is of particular utilityr in a machine of t-he type illustrated as one or more of the gas containers may become partially or wholly deflated so that the lifting power ofthe gas is unevenly distributed.

Referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that a duplicate control-system is provided. rIwo se-ats for voperators are shown at 49 and three these two seats. Each shaft is provided with two operating handles 51, one adjacent to each of the seats 49. Also each shaft 50 has a crank-arm` 52 secured thereto from the lower end of which a rod connects with the part to be operated thereby. In the present instancel have shown three concentric the crank-arms 52 with the front control 53, rear control 54 and the rudder 55.

It is not desired. to have the machine controlled from the two seats 49 simultaneously and I have, therefore, shown the handles 51 detachable from their respective shafts 50 so that either set of handles may be rendered operative or inoperative. For this purpose the several handles may be constructed as shown in Fig. 6. Each handle has a 4plunger 56 extending therethrough moved upwardly from the shaft by a spring 5-7. The plunger may be depressed by ay button at its outer end to carry the opposite end into an o-pening in the shaft which is to be operated by the handle. When the plunger 56 is so. moved it is held in operative posior more concentric shafts `50 extend across `'1o lized for driving its vertically disposed prol by a handle 47 to vary the position of the j sha'fts 5() and these are connected through tion by a spring-pressed latch 58 which en gages a wall on the interior of the handle.'

I wish 1t understood that my invention,l

so far as it concerns the duplicate controlling mechanisms, is independent of the particular type of control system Aemployed in the machine and the particular arrangement of the devices for operating the same. Thus, the use of a front control, as that shown at 53,. and means for moving it is not essential, and the arrangement ofthe handles 51 may be varied as desired without departing from the spirit of my invention, which contemplates broadly the use of two seatsI for operators, duplicate operating mechanisms, one operated from each of the seats, and means whereby either operating mechanism may be rendered inoperative, so that the machine will be controlled only by the other operating mechanism.

-Having now described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent is as follows l. A flying machine having a frame, a plane mounted thereon, a gas-engine mounted on the frame, a reservoir for compressed air, and connections from the reservoir to the engine for starting the engine with air from the reservoir, said reservoir being located in the lower. part of the machine' and serving as a pontoon when the machine descends upon water, substantially as'sety forth.

2. A flying machine having a frame, a

Yplane mounted thereon, a gas-engine mounted on the frame, a seat for an operator, controlling devices located adjacent thereto, a plurality of tanks constituting a. reservoir, an air compressor driven by the engine for compressing air in the reservoir, a motor, and means controlled by the operator for admitting air to the motor-from the reservioll and connecting theV motor in driving relation to the engine, said tanks being lov cated in the lower part of the machine and on opposite'sides of the center thereof and serving asV pontoons 'when' the machine descends upon water, substantially as set forth.

3,:y A iying machine comprising the combination of a frame, a plane mounted thereon and having an opening therethrough at the lcenter, a vertically-disposed fin mounted upon the frame in line with said opening, a/horizontally-disposed propeller mounted for rotation in line with said opening, and an engine for driving the propeller, substantially as set forth.

4. A flying machine comprising the combination of a frame,.a plane mounted thereon and having an opening therethrough at t-he center, a vertically-disposed fin mounted upon the frame in line withsaid opening, means for varying the effective area of the iin, a horizontally-disposed propeller mounted, for rotation in line with said opening, and an engine for driving the propeller, substantiallyv as set forth. v

5. A- flying machine comprising the combination of a frame, a plane mounted thereon and having an opening therethrough at the center,a vertically-disposed fin mounted upon the frame in line with said opening, a horizontally-disposed propeller mounted for rotation in line with said openlng, two

engines mounted on opposite sides of the opening, and means for driving said propeller from one of said engines, substantially as set forth.

6. A flying machine comprising the combination of a frame, two planes mounted thereon one above the other and both having openings therethrough at the center, a plurality of gas-containers mounted upon the upper plane, two engines mounted upon the frame below the lower plane and on opposite sides of said opening, a horizontallydisposed propeller mounted for rotation in line with sald opening, means for driving the propeller, a vertically disposed fin mounted in line with said openings, and means for'varying the effective areal of said iin, substantially as set forth.

7 A flying-machine comprising the combination of a frame, a plane mounted thereon having openings therethrough on opposite sides ofthe center of the machine, a vert-ically-dispo-sed n in line with each of said openings, andy an engine for propelling the machine, substantially as set forth.

8. A fiying machine comprising the combination of a frame, a plane mounted thereon having openings therethrough on opposite'sides of the center of the machine, a vertically-disposed fin. in line with each of said openings, means for varying the 'effective area of said fins, and an engine for propelling the machine, substantially as set,

forth. l

9.' A flying machine comprising the combination of a frame, two planes mounted thereon one l' above the other and having ibination of a frame,

. Lowers' in line with each of said openings, means for varying the effective area of said fins,

ca horizontally-disposed propeller rotating in line with the central opening, a vertically-disposed propeller, and means for driving the propellers, substantially as set forth.

11. A flying machine comprising the combination of a frame, a plane, an engine mounted on the frame, a propeller driven thereby, controlling mechanism, two seats for'operators mounted on the frame, means for operating said controlling mechanism from either of said seats,4and' means for rendering said operating means either operative or' inoperative, substantially as set forth. 12. A iiyingvmachinecomprising the comtwo planes mounted thereon one above the other, two gas -engines mounted upon 'the frame, two independently rotatable, vertically-disposed, conv centric propellers, gearing connectin each of the engines to one of the propel ers, a weight, means for adjusting the position of the weight lengthwise of the machine, said ,weight being capable of movement a substantial distance forward or rearward of a second weight and means for said planes,

second weight transversely of moving said the machine ends of the planes, substantially as set forth.

13: A flying-machine comprising the combination of a' frame, a plane mounted thereon,an engine mounted on the frame, a propeller driven by the engine, two seats for operators mounted on the frame, controlling mechanism, ltwo ,sets oi 'operating devices for said* controlling mechanism, one set mounted adjacent to each of said seats, andmeansffor rendering either of said sets of operating devices operative or inoperative, substantially`as set forth. l

This specification 'signed and witnessed this 20th day of April, 1911,

FRANK M. BELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. BRCK, VAN C. WILSON.

to any position between the 

